By Uchenna Ezeadigwe
Awka
The Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) has called on political parties, candidates, support groups, and individuals to ensure proper registration and obtain the necessary licences through advertising practitioners recognised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and authorised by the agency.
ANSAA also stated that, in order to ensure orderliness, prevent visual pollution, protect public infrastructure, maintain professional standards, guarantee fairness and equal access to advertising spaces, and ensure proper coordination of campaign-related outdoor activities across the state, approved fees have been established for election campaign advertising materials.
The Assistant General Manager of ANSAA, Engr. Chika Ngobili, made this known during a press briefing on the Out-of-Home Promotion and Visual Campaign Guidelines for Political Parties and Candidates for the 2027 General Elections in Anambra State, held on Friday, May 29, at the agency’s headquarters in Awka.
According to Ngobili, “In line with the regulatory framework guiding political campaign activities in Anambra State, and in anticipation of the official lifting of the ban on political campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), we wish to formally inform political parties, candidates, advertising practitioners, the media, and the general public of the Out-of-Home Promotions and Visual Campaign Guidelines for the 2027 General Elections in Anambra State.
“No individual, political party, candidate, or support group is permitted to erect billboards or advertisement structures in any part of Anambra State except through duly registered and licensed advertising practitioners recognised by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and authorised by ANSAA.
“All political parties and candidates are therefore strongly advised to work only with ARCON-registered practitioners and obtain the necessary approvals from ANSAA to avoid sanctions, removal of unauthorised materials, or other regulatory actions.
“Political parties and candidates are also advised against the indiscriminate pasting of posters on public buildings, road signs, bridges, flyovers, drainage channels, public monuments, utility installations, schools, hospitals, and other prohibited locations across the state.”
Ngobili further disclosed that the approved permit fees for the various categories of elections are as follows: Presidential Candidates — ₦50 million; Senatorial Candidates — ₦20 million; House of Representatives Candidates — ₦5 million; Anambra State House of Assembly Candidates — ₦1.5 million; Local Government Chairmanship Candidates — ₦2.5 million; and Councillorship Candidates — ₦100,000.
He explained that the permits grant candidates and political parties the right to deploy approved campaign materials and activities, including posters, public address systems, branded vehicles, banners, flyers, buntings, T-shirts, caps, street storms, campaign booths, rallies, and other related promotional materials within approved locations across the relevant electoral areas in Anambra State.
Ngobili advised candidates, political parties, supporters, and the general public to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the campaign season. He urged Ndi Anambra to approach the elections in the spirit of peace, mutual respect, civility, and dignity.
“We commend all political parties and aspirants for the peaceful conduct of their internal processes and political engagements thus far. It is our hope and expectation that this atmosphere of peace, maturity, and orderliness will continue throughout the campaign period and the elections proper,” he said.
News Echo reports that ANSAA’s sole responsibility is to regulate out-of-home advertising structures and control outdoor signage and advertising activities across the state. The agency is empowered by law to issue permits and licences for the construction and deployment of signage and advertisements, ensure environmental aesthetics, protect public infrastructure, and collect appropriate revenues on behalf of the state government.
Meanwhile, other board executive members present at the briefing included Mr. Chike Nelson, Mr. Chijioke Eruchalu, Mr. Innocent Adike, and the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. MacDonald Ifeme.
For newspaper publication, I would also recommend changing the headline to:
“ANSAA Warns Political Parties, Candidates to Obtain Advertising Permits or Face Sanctions”
This headline is shorter, clearer, and more newsworthy.
